Apple has now sold out of its launch day pre-order stock of all six Wi-Fi models in its online store, with new pre-orders currently being quoted shipping estimates of one week. The company's retail stores should still have stock available beginning at 8:00 AM on Friday for those still interested in obtaining one on launch day.

Wi-Fi fourth-generation iPad models with one-week shipping estimates

iPad mini pre-orders are continuing to hold at two-week shipping estimates, while those who were able to get their launch-day orders in are monitoring delivery progress. Those who ordered iPad mini Smart Covers have been seeing their accessories delivered yesterday and today, while MacRumors forum members have been following progress of the devices themselves in an extensive thread.

While Apple's official online order status pages generally still show iPad mini pre-orders as "Preparing for Shipment", most of the orders are actually already en route. Some users have had success locating their packages by searching FedEx tracking using their phone numbers as references, while others have had success by looking up the serial numbers of their devices and using those as references to track via UPS.

iPad mini pre-order en route via UPS for Friday delivery

Cellular-capable models of the iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad will not ship until later this month, with the earliest pre-order customers seeing estimated delivery dates beginning November 21 in the United States.

I don't want to sound like the typical snarky guy on the internet, but I have an honest question:

For those of you who purchased the iPad mini, what are the primary reasons at this price point?

IMHO, it would be a great buy as a book reader for $199, but at $329, it's just $70 away from the "real thing" with large canvas.

Enlighten me? :o

Happy to enlighten, if I can.

The form factor for me is a big selling point. I have owned a few iPads and have sold them all within a few months. I want something just a little smaller and lighter. Lighter is key. I did not like reading on the iPad(1),(2), or (3) because they were just a little too heavy for long periods of reading when you want to just hold it in one hand. This is why I loved the Kindle I owned for a while.

I also wear a jacket a lot of the year and can see myself tossing the mini in an inside pocket. There were lots of times I wanted to take the iPad with me, but it was just a little too big.

Also, 329 might seem high, but it is still a big savings from the 499 starting point of the iPad4. As a student who has a decent job, but still has to watch what he spends, I like the 170 savings.

MacRumors attracts a broad audience
of both consumers and professionals interested in
the latest technologies and products. We also boast an active community focused on
purchasing decisions and technical aspects of the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Mac platforms.